Chapter 09 Driver/Operator

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 5th Edition

Chapter 9 — Driver/Operator

ARFF9–2

Chapter 9 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to recall basic facts about apparatus use, operation and safety in aircraft rescue and fire fighting.

ARFF9–3

Objectives

1.Discuss apparatus inspection and maintenance procedures. 2.Describe principles of safe vehicle operation. 3.Discuss ARFF vehicle operational considerations.

(Continued)

ARFF9–4

Objectives

4.Discuss agent discharge. 5. Discuss resupply. 6.Describe auxiliary systems and compressed-air foam systems.

ARFF9–5

Apparatus Inspection and Maintenance

• SOPs for inspection/maintenance• Driver/operators

– Study operator’s manual– Knowledge of vehicle

(Continued)

ARFF9–6

Apparatus Inspection and Maintenance

• Vehicle operator’s manuals– Apparatus data– Inspection checklists– Lubrication charts– Troubleshooting guides

ARFF9–7

General Inspection Procedures and Safety

• Plan for inspecting vehicles– Manufacturer’s requirements– Department needs

• Vehicle inspection– Vehicles operate properly when

needed– Keep driver/operators skilled

(Continued)

ARFF9–8


• Daily inspection– Engine fluid levels– Fire fighting agent

levels– Setting

mirrors/safety equipment

– Operational test(Continued)

ARFF9–9


• Wash ARFF vehicles– Off road operation– Inclement weather– Abnormally dirty

ARFF9–10

General Inspection Procedures and Safety: Guidelines

• Stop engine and accessory operations

• Chock vehicle wheels• Use nonflammable solvent for

cleaning• Keep hands, feet, and loose

clothing away from belts, pulleys, and drive shafts (Continued)

ARFF9–11

General Inspection Procedures and Safety: Guidelines

• Do not smoke• Remove rings, watches, and other

metallic objects• Wear protective clothing

ARFF9–12

Foam System Inspection and Testing

• Daily basis — making sure agent tank is full

• Annually — testing foam proportioning system– Improper foam concentrate

proportion creates problems– NFPA® 412 allows two methods

ARFF9–13

Foam Solution Refractivity Testing

• Performed with a refractometer• Test quality of foam solution after

it is created• Recommended for protein- and

fluoroprotein-based and Film Forming Fluoroprotein (FFFP) foam solutions

(Continued)

ARFF9–14

Foam Solution Refractivity Testing

• Not accurate for synthetic-based foams

• Equipment that can be operated at more than one setting– Three samples– Separate charts

Courtesy of John Demyan, LVI Airport.

ARFF9–15

Foam Solution Conductivity Testing

• Used to check quality of synthetic-based foams– Synthetic-based foams are light in

color; refractivity tests are not accurate

– Can be used for all foams

(Continued)

ARFF9–16

Foam Solution Conductivity Testing

• Does not rely on color• Relies on ability to conduct

electricity• Three methods

– Direct reading conductivity testing– Conductivity comparison testing– Conductivity calibration curve testing

ARFF9–17

Dry-Chemical System Inspection and Testing

• Monitor cylinder pressure during normal apparatus checks

(Continued)

ARFF9–18


• Filling and safety instructions– Wear dust mask/respiratory filter– Fill to manufacturer’s rated capacity– Clean fill opening threads and gasket

seating surface– Examine gasket for damage– Reset the indicator

(Continued)

ARFF9–19


• Testing– Expensive– Time consuming– Follow manufacturer’s safety

procedures

(Continued)

ARFF9–20


• Dry chemical – Can settle and pack– May require agent

fluffing

• Handlines– Should be

completely blown out– Agent can block

hoses

ARFF9–21

Clean-Agent Extinguishing Systems

• Usually stored in pressurized vessels

• Dispensed using gases such as argon or dry nitrogen

• Dispensed through handlines• Require little inspection• Follow manufacturer’s procedures

(Continued)

ARFF9–22

Clean-Agent Extinguishing Systems

• WARNING! Firefighters have been killed from improperly servicing pressurized systems. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions whenever servicing any pressurized system.

ARFF9–23

Principles of Safe Vehicle Operation

• ARFF vehicles — larger and heavier than structural fire apparatus

• NFPA® 1002 describes driving skills

(Continued)

Courtesy of Doddy Photography.

ARFF9–24

Principles of Safe Vehicle Operation

• Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC)– Braking and reaction time– Rollover awareness and avoidance– Skid avoidance, control, and recovery– Safe acceleration and deceleration

• Wear seat belts!

ARFF9–25

Braking Reaction Times

• Driver reaction time — time it takes to react to a situation

• Total stopping distance components– Perception distance– Reaction distance– Braking distance

(Continued)

ARFF9–26

Braking Reaction Times

• Total stopping distancePerception Distance + Reaction Distance + Braking Distance = Total Stopping Distance

ARFF9–27

Avoiding Rollover

• ARFF vehicles — tendency to roll over

• Higher center of gravity

• Lateral Acceleration Indicator — indicate vehicle attitude when turning

ARFF9–28

Speed and Centrifugal Force

• Faster a vehicle is driven; longer it will take to safely stop

• Speed affects ability to be turned– Centrifugal force– Overturning

• Speed — major cause of accidents

ARFF9–29

Skid Avoidance

• Skid — tires lose grip on the road• Most common skid — rear wheels

lose traction– Excessive braking– Excessive acceleration

• Front wheel skids — driving too fast

(Continued)

ARFF9–30

Skid Avoidance

• Hydroplaning — direction control is partially or totally lost because of water on the roadway

ARFF9–31

Acceleration/Deceleration

• Responding to an emergency– Arrive safely– Arrive quickly

• ARFF vehicles require longer stopping distances

(Continued)

ARFF9–32

Acceleration/Deceleration

• Over-acceleration and excessive deceleration burden vehicle– Engine– Transmission– Braking system

ARFF9–33

Operational Considerations: On the Airport

• Majority of driving done on airport property– Familiar with airport layout– Aircraft parking areas present special

challenges

(Continued)

ARFF9–34


• WARNING! ARFF driver/operators should NEVER, under any circumstances, drive under the wing of a parked or moving aircraft. Doing so places the ARFF crew and vehicle in great danger.

(Continued)

ARFF9–35


• Route taken – May have advanced warning– Predesignated response routes

ARFF9–36

Loose or Wet Soil

• Know off-road capabilities– Tire diameter, width, inflation

pressure, and deflection– Deflate tires– Central Inflation/Deflation Systems

(CISD)

ARFF9–37

Loose or Wet Soil: Safe Operations in Rough Terrain

• Wear seat and shoulder belts• Do not wrap thumbs around wheel• Lock doors and wear a helmet• Secure loose objects

(Continued)

ARFF9–38


• Have someone walk ahead and guide in questionable areas

(Continued)

ARFF9–39


• Check questionable areas yourself• Look at conditions before leaving

hard surface• Avoid freestanding water• Maintain steady speed, keep

wheels straight

(Continued)

ARFF9–40


• Keep driving if start to lose traction• Stop only if stuck or to position

vehicle• Keep headlights and windows

clean

ARFF9–41

Loose or Wet Soil: Parking in Off-Road Conditions

• Turn around and stop, facing the way you will be leaving

• Get out and check an area before backing into it

• Make sure adequate ground support

• Walk around vehicle

ARFF9–42

Loose or Wet Soil: Navigating Muddy or Sandy Terrain

• Maintain movement with the least amount of strain on the vehicle, engine, and power train

• Increase speed uphill, reduce speed downhill

• Lock differentials if necessary

(Continued)

ARFF9–43

Loose or Wet Soil: Navigating Muddy or Sandy Terrain

• Maintain steady, even rate of movement

• Keep transmission in lowest ranges• Anticipate/avoid difficult spots

ARFF9–44

Automatic Transmission Shifting

• Lower gear range – May be desirable– Greater engine braking effect

• Gear range 2 — for vehicle speed control up or down steep grades, or other uneven, unusual, or undesirable road conditions.

(Continued)

ARFF9–45

Automatic Transmission Shifting

• First gear range (creeper gear) – Slow, severe load and grade

operations– Off-road conditions– Pulling through mud and snow– Provides greatest traction and engine

braking action

• Manually shift in gear ranges 2-5

ARFF9–46

Returning to Normal Driving

• Disengage the accelerator, then disengage the differential locking switch

• Stop and inspect the vehicle for damage

(Continued)

ARFF9–47

Returning to Normal Driving

• Remove mud, stones, or other potential foreign object debris (FOD)

• Make sure all equipment is secure

ARFF9–48

Steep Grades

• ARFF vehicles designed to function on steep grades

• Operator’s manuals– Grade-ability– Obstacle climbing ability– Side slope stability

(Continued)

ARFF9–49

Steep Grades

• Apparatus specs– Angle of approach– Angle of departure

ARFF9–50

Vehicle Clearance of Obstacles

• Stuck vehicles — major cause is by catching on something underneath it

• Know ground clearance of the vehicle

ARFF9–51

Changes in Surface Elevation

• Cross shallow ditches using low gear ranges and proceeding slowly

• Enter the ditch obliquely • Use the differential locks if

advisable• Accelerate enough to keep the

vehicle rolling after reaching the bottom of a ditch

ARFF9–52

Crossing a Gully

• Look formations over carefully• Approach slowly, in low gear,

differential locks engaged, and at a right angle to the edge

• Ease the front wheels into the gully by using the brakes

(Continued)

ARFF9–53

Crossing a Gully

• Increase speed when the wheels hit bottom

• Drive around larger obstacles

ARFF9–54

Limited Space for Turnaround

• Many areas provide limited space for turning

• Driver/operator – Must visualize vehicle’s turning radius– Practice

ARFF9–55

Side Slopes

• Avoid side-hill situations whenever possible

• Move extremely slowly • Keep the wheels on the uphill side

of the road

(Continued)

ARFF9–56

Side Slopes

• Steer downhill toward the direction of the slide

• Do not get over confident

ARFF9–57

Backing a Vehicle

• Avoid when possible, follow safety precautions – Look at the line of travel– Get out, walk around vehicle if alone– Back as slowly as possible in direction

that provides the best visibility– Use a guide/second guide when

available (Continued)

ARFF9–58

Backing a Vehicle

• Driver is responsible for backing the vehicle– Should always see the guide– Stop backing if lose sight of the guide– Driver must keep window rolled down– At night, all available lighting should

be used(Continued)

ARFF9–59

Backing a Vehicle

• Guide– Should not leave

position until driver signals

– Can use a portable radio

Courtesy of Doddy Photography.

ARFF9–60

Backing a Vehicle

• ARFF apparatus – Should be equipped with an alarm

system that warns others the vehicle is backing up

– May be equipped with backing sensors

– May be equipped with rear-mounted video camera

ARFF9–61

Night Driving

• Airfield appears different at night

• Driver/operators should practice– Driver’s enhanced

vision system (DEVS) – Forward Looking

Infra-Red (FLIR) system

ARFF9–62

Off-Airport Resources

• ARFF driver/operators — should be trained and prepared to operate their vehicles under conditions found off-site

• Height and weight limits of bridges — influence selection of off-site response routes

ARFF9–63

Adverse Environmental or Driving-Surface Conditions

• Adverse environmental conditions —contributing factor in delayed ARFF responses– Can be difficult to see an aircraft that

has no lights or is not burning– Use extreme caution when

approaching a suspected accident/incident site

(Continued)

ARFF9–64

Adverse Environmental or Driving-Surface Conditions

• Driver/operators– Knowing possible location of the

accident/incident helps take the best route

– Must be familiar with airport layout

ARFF9–65

Maneuvering and Positioning ARFF Apparatus

• Do not – Get locked into trying to protect a

large fuselage and spill fire from a single parking spot.

– Position based solely on tradition or department procedures

(Continued)

ARFF9–66

Maneuvering and Positioning ARFF Apparatus

• Position and apply agent based on the situation

• Do whatever is necessary and move wherever is needed to extinguish all of the fire

ARFF9–67

Wreckage Patterns

• Wreckage pattern factors– Direction and speed on impact– Weather conditions– Size of aircraft– Type of crash – Location of the crash site– Type of terrain

(Continued)

ARFF9–68

Wreckage Patterns

• Wreckage problems for personnel – Large debris– Victims– Fire– Hazardous materials

• Bumps — may be wreckage, debris, or even victims

ARFF9–69

Survivors

• Aircraft occupant evacuation – If passengers and crew are capable of

escaping on their own, many will be out before ARFF units arrive

– Will affect positioning apparatus

(Continued)

ARFF9–70

Survivors

• Fuel spill– Evacuating persons and the aircraft

must be protected and isolated – Intact wing fuel cells need to be

protected – Fuel spill threatening the aircraft

should be controlled within one minute after arrival of ARFF

ARFF9–71

Terrain

• Must be familiar with the terrain of the airport and nearby areas

• Terrain presents problems• Key to handling problems

– Anticipate problems – Be familiar with airport and

surrounding areas

ARFF9–72

Agent Discharge: Agent Management

• Most ARFF foam apparatus exhaust their agent capacity in approximately 90-120 seconds

• Driver/operators must know – How must of each agent is carried – Realistic fire fighting capabilities of

that amount of agent

ARFF9–73

Agent Discharge: Agent Management Guidelines

• Do not waste agent during the approach

• Get close enough to effectively utilize turrets and reach the fire

(Continued)

ARFF9–74

Agent Discharge: Agent Management Guidelines

• Utilize the proper turret pattern or flow

• Do not over or undershoot the fire• Use low flow at close range in an

apparatus that has dual flow capabilities

ARFF9–75

Agent Management: Effects of Terrain and Wind

• Terrain affects agent application• Wind — detrimental effects on fire

streams• Discharge agent from best possible

location• May have to work in varying wind

directions

ARFF9–76

Reach, Penetration, and Application

• ARFF vehicles have characteristics that determine performance– Agent-application rate– Pressure– Distance

• Know the vehicle’s turret reach

(Continued)

ARFF9–77


• Must be able to determine how the agent will affect the fire, make sure the agent is reaching and extinguishing– Discharging the agent a few seconds

at a time can best do this– Allows foam to work and spread

across the burning fuel and conserves agent

(Continued)

ARFF9–78


• Extendable turret– Much further reach– Ability to attack from lower positions– Ability to place the agent closer to the

base of the fire

(Continued)

ARFF9–79


• Driver/operator must develop technique– Roof/bumper turret is difficult – Environmental concerns can make

frequent training difficult

• Learn vehicle’s reach by setting up a course using a traffic cone and softball (Continued)

ARFF9–80


• Pump-and-roll capability — driving toward a fire and after engaging the fire fighting system, begin fire attack

ARFF9–81

Water Resupply

• Water — most common resupply need – Large foam

concentrate tanks– Steady supply of

water needed

ARFF9–82

Foam Concentrate Resupply

• Foam concentrate resupply – Filling a few gallons (liters) of foam

from 5-gallon (20 L) containers– Using foam tenders to fill ARFF

vehicles

• “Rapid resupply”– Use of cam-lock of Storz fittings– Using a pump (Continued)

ARFF9–83

Foam Concentrate Resupply

• Preincident planning — worst-case scenario– Agent needed to extinguish fire in

largest aircraft expected at that airport

– Helps decide best resupply system

ARFF9–84

Dry Chemical and Clean Agent Supply

• Not practical to resupply ARFF apparatus dry-chemical or clean-agent systems during an incident

• Special servicing requirements

ARFF9–85

Auxiliary Systems

• Winterization system• Aircraft-skin-penetrating system

ARFF9–86

Compressed-air Foam Systems

• Use either – A stored premixed solution of foam

concentrate and water – A proportioned foam solution drawn

from foam concentrate and water tanks on the apparatus

(Continued)

ARFF9–87

Compressed-air Foam Systems

• Compressed air is injected into the foam solution

• ARFF industry is interested in this process

• Work well on small fuel spills and fires on the flight line

ARFF9–88

Summary

• ARFF driver/operators are responsible for the vehicles to which they are assigned. They should ensure that their vehicles are properly inspected and that apparatus’ extinguishing systems are tested and in working order.

(Continued)

ARFF9–89

Summary

• Driver/operators are also responsible for safely getting their vehicles to a scene and positioning their vehicles. They must understand the limitations of ARFF vehicles and drive within those limitations.

(Continued)

ARFF9–90

Summary

• They must also know how to safely traverse a variety of slopes, terrain, and weather both by day and night. They should understand and utilize all of the driving assistance systems.

(Continued)

ARFF9–91

Summary

• Driver/operators are responsible for administering foam agent from turrets and other outlets on vehicles.

ARFF9–92

Review Questions

1.What are the components of a daily inspection? 2.What are the methods of testing a foam proportioning system for calibration accuracy? 3.How is a direct reading conductivity test performed?

(Continued)

ARFF9–93

Review Questions

4. What filling and safety instructions should be followed when adding dry chemical to an agent tank? 5.How is total stopping distance figured? 6.What is hydroplaning?

(Continued)

ARFF9–94

Review Questions

7.What is the most important driving situation for ARFF crew members? 8.What are some practices to follow when transitioning from off-road to on-road driving?

(Continued)

ARFF9–95

Review Questions

9.What guidelines should be followed when positioning an apparatus?

10.What is pump-and-roll?

Government & Nonprofit

Chapter 09 Driver/Operator